Improvement in the manufacture of gunpowder



Quinn 11mg gaunt ffirr,

WILLIAM 'HyJACK'sON, OF S'AL'EM, MA SAC USETTS} Letters Patent No.79,229, dated June 23, 18 68.-

IMPROVEMENT-IN THE MANUFAG'I'URE or euurownnn,

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. JACKSON, of Salem, in. the county ofEssex, and State of Massachusetts,

have invented a new and improved Mode of. Manufacturing Powder; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof.

My invention has for its object the manufacture of powder to he used infire-arms or cannon, and for blastingor mining purposes, by dissolvingthe whole or part oi ythe ingredients 'of which it is to be composed,and by then evaporating such solutions, as hereinafter,describech toobtain a homogeneous and powerfully explosive powder.

Powders for the above-mentioned purpose are at present made by grindingand pressing the ingredients together, with great danger to the workmen,and frequently with unsatisfactory results to the manufacturers.

To enable one skilled in the art to makeuse of my invention, I willproceed to describe the process of manufacture.

I have found that such powders are best made from highly-oxidized salts,such as chloratcs or nitrates of potash, soda, or baryta, with somevegetable extract, such as gambia or logwood extract, and sulphur andcarbon in some cases. I dissolve the chlorate or nitrate with thevegetable extract in suflicient cold or warmwater to make a perfectsolution, in an open pan or kettle, and immediately begin to evaporateby fire or steam-heat. While this solution is evaporating, I stir insulphur, either in solution or as brimstone, or as an insolublecompound, and,.ii' desirable, I also add insolublecarbon duringtheevaporation. All the necessary ingredients having been added,Ievaporate the whole to or nearly to dryness, with constant stirring; itis then passed through sieves of the requisite degree of fineness, andis ready for use or sale. i

I do not confine myself to the exact kind of ingredients, nor to anyspecified proportions of the same, and I am aware that the materialsmcntioned abo've have been employedin the composition of powder'; but itis my desire at present to secure this new mode of manufacture bysolution and evaporation.

Powder made by my process has many advantages over any other, its costis reduced, explosive power enhanced, the result is always sure anduniform, and the danger in handling is much lessened.

I am aware that gunpowder has been-made by mixing pulverized sulphur,charcoal, and other combustible powders with solutions of saltpetre andof other salts containing oxygen, and then evaporating to dryness, and Ido 'not claim such modes of procedure; but

What I claim, and desire. to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

The manufacture of gunpowder by mixing a solution of nitrate of potash,or a known equivalent thereof, with a soluble vegetable extract, such asextract of logwood, or with other soluble organic matter, and bysubsequensly evaporating to dryness, with or without the addition ofsulphur or of pulverized charcoal substan, tially as hereinabovedescribed.

W. H. JACKSON. Witnesses:

WM. ANDREWS, G150. H. Buxror.

